This easy fudge is full of sweet dark cherries and walnuts . . . and a little bit of Baileys Chocolate Cherry Liqueur. You don’t have to add the liqueur, of course (a dash of cherry flavoring is a good substitute) but it sure adds a festive touch for Valentine’s Day.
I used silicone heart molds to create perfect little fudge hearts. You could also pour the fudge into a large heart-shaped pan, or into a regular sheet pan and cut hearts out with cookie cutters. (I’m sure you can think of something to do with the leftover scraps.) This makes a lot of little hearts, so unless you have several silicone pans, have a small pan lined with parchment to put excess fudge into.
When I say the fudge is easy, I mean it’s not a complicated recipe. It does require your undivided attention at the stove for ten minutes or so, though. You can do that, right? For simplicity, leave the fudge plain. If you want to play with your food, you can “ice” it with a thin layer of melted chocolate and decorate with sprinkles, or roses made of royal icing or candy clay.
The heart on the left below is unadorned. The heart on the right was flipped over and the smooth side was coated with chocolate and gussied up with a few candy roses.
You’ll need a candy thermometer for this recipe. I started out with the recipe on the jar of marshmallow fluff, but because I added frozen sweet cherries to the mixture, it took a lot longer to reach the proper temperature – about ten minutes instead of the four minutes in the instructions on the jar. Not something you should guess at!
Speaking of temperatures, did you know that altitude really matters when making candy? My home is at an altitude of 2,500 feet, so I deduct five degrees from the target temperature. Subtract one degree for every 500 feet in elevation.
This recipe calls for 12 ounces of chopped chocolate. I use good dark chocolate and include 1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate because I want my fudge to be really rich. I tend to have little chunks of different brands of chocolate in the cupboard, so I just throw them all together on my kitchen scale until I have 12 ounces. Mix and match! (And yes, to make it even simpler, you can use dark chocolate chips.)
| Cherry Nut Fudge (with a little something extra) | Print |
- 1 cup (packed firmly) frozen dark sweet cherries, coarsely chopped
- 3 cups sugar
- ⅔ cup evaporated milk
- ¾ cup butter
- 12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme (or fluff)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup Baileys Chocolate Cherry Liqueur (or substitute 2 teaspoons vanilla and ½ teaspoon cherry flavoring)
- Optional for decorating: Melted chocolate, sprinkles, nuts, candy, royal icing flowers
- Candy thermometer and silicone molds (or 9x13-inch cake pan)
- If using a 9x13-inch pan or heart-shaped cake pans instead of silicone molds, butter lightly and place parchment in the bottom of the pan. Silicone molds do not need to be greased.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cherries, sugar, evaporated milk, and butter. Stir frequently until mixture comes to a boil, then stir constantly until it reaches 234 F. on a candy thermometer. (Adjust for high altitude if necessary, lowering temperature by 1 degree for
each 500 feet.) - Remove from heat and stir in chocolate and marshmallow creme.
- Add walnuts and liqueur (or flavorings) and stir until well mixed.
- Spoon or scoop into ungreased silicone molds (tap lightly to level the fudge) or spread into prepared pans.
- Allow mixture to cool completely, then cover and place in cool location. Refrigerate for firmer fudge (and easier cutting.)
- Decorate fudge by spreading with a small amount of melted chocolate and adding desired candy, nuts, or icing flowers.
Chop up the chocolate! (Yes, you can use dark chocolate chips if you prefer.)
Prepare and set aside everything that you will add at the end. Trust me, you don’t want to be trying to stir and chop at the same time!
Combine cherries, sugar, milk, and butter in large pan
Almost done! Love that purple color.
Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate and marshmallow.
Add nuts and Baileys (or vanilla and cherry flavorings if you’re substituting) and stir well
Fill silicone molds or prepared pans and chill until firm.
I use a knife to put a thin layer of chocolate on the smooth side of each heart because I love the little “snap” when I bite into one. Or two. It would be fun to write names or little conversation heart sayings on each one, too. So many possibilities!
More sweet treats coming soon,
Lorinda